Passengers waiting to board a cruise ship have described “complete chaos” after gas leaks shut down part of Southampton port.
Around 100 people were left stranded in the VOCO hotel in Southampton after gas leaks were reported at the port’s Dock Gates 4 and 5, just hours before Cunard's Queen Anne is due to depart at 4pm.
Among those affected was Londoner Susan Drecksler, 72, and her husband Lawrence, 77, who has Parkinson’s disease.
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Mrs Drecksler said: "The whole point of coming to Southampton is you get dropped off, they put you in a wheelchair.
"We can’t walk. Somehow we have to get some assistance.
"It’s complete chaos."
The disruption has impacted the couple’s plans to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
Mrs Drecksler said: "It’s awful, it’s a really expensive holiday.
"It’s a lovely thing, our 20th anniversary, and we were just hoping to get on the ship.
"Now we’re stuck in a hotel, it’s the no knowledge bit that’s the worst.
"First they said it could be half an hour, now they’re saying three to four."
ABP, which operates the port, has now said the leak was near Ocean Cruise Terminal.
An ABP Spokesperson said: "Unfortunately, the port has experienced a gas leak adjacent to Ocean Cruise Terminal today, which has impacted operations at the terminal and in the Eastern Dock.
"We are working to address this as soon as possible and reopen access where possible in the very near future. We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. We will further update at 13:30."
Southampton City Council said Dock Gates 4 and 5 have been evacuated and that an engineer is currently inspecting the leak, with cars queuing along Platform Road, Town Quay, and West Quay Road.
A spokesman for the council said: "There has been a gas leak affecting Dock Gate 4 and 5.
"Both gates have been evacuated.
"An engineer is currently inspecting the leak."
